She slowly opened her eyes, which were like the purest sapphire, clear and bright, filled with the innocent joy of a newborn.
She succeeded! She was finally fully resurrected and her human form was restored!
Chapter 421 Easy to bully
However, when Ah Yin looked down at her now mature and slender body, which resembled that of a twenty-year-old girl, a hint of distress and dissatisfaction appeared on her beautiful face.
She landed gently, stretched her limbs, and touched her noticeably larger face and figure. Her small lips pouted slightly as she looked at Xuan Ming, her voice tinged with a hint of grievance.
" Xuan Ming... how... how did things become like this? Like this... I... I can't even cuddle up to you like I used to..."
She seemed quite uncomfortable with her "big girl" appearance and missed the little girl form she used to be, who could cling to Xuan Ming without any worries.
Xuan Ming looked at Ah Yin, who had been successfully resurrected but was a little upset because of her size, and a faint smile flashed across his cold face.
He reached out and gently ruffled Ah Yin's long, smooth blue hair, his tone carrying a rare hint of teasing:
"That's good too. At least they don't look so easy to bully anymore."
"How could that be? I'm easy to bully." Ah Yin threw herself into Xuan Ming's arms, looking at him expectantly.
"Don't believe me? Try it!"
"..."
Looking at Ah Yin's dependence on Xuan Ming, Bo Saixi couldn't help but recall the Fourth Trial that had long since passed.
It seems there's still one fish that slipped through the net?
Seeing that Ah Yin remained so dependent on him even after her resurrection, and even boldly threw herself into his arms, a hint of helplessness flashed in Xuan Ming's eyes, but he did not push her away. He could feel that this was still the same " Little Ah Yin " with a pure heart and only memories of the early stages of her transformation.
Once she calmed down a bit, Xuan Ming gently patted her back to help her stand up straight.
"Get used to your new body first," Xuan Ming said, then changed the subject calmly, asking, "What about her? How is she now?"
The person he was asking about was, of course, the " Big Ah Yin," who possessed all of Tang Hao's memories and was both more mature and more tormented.
Little Ah Yin's elation subsided slightly, a complex emotion flashing in her azure eyes. She lowered her head slightly, her consciousness seemingly communicating internally. After a moment, she raised her head again, her eyes becoming somewhat melancholy and conflicted, her voice lowering slightly:
"She... is still in pain. She spends most of her time asleep, unwilling to wake up and face reality. She said... now that you've resurrected me, she has nothing left to worry about, perhaps... remaining asleep forever is better for everyone."
"Tell her that there are plenty of people who hate me, and I don't need her." Xuan Ming said calmly, looking at Little Ah Yin, who was depressed because of the other soul in her body.
"Escaping solves nothing. Death is the end, but living, even if painful, means there's still a possibility of change. If she remains asleep, she's truly giving up everything, including... everything she once cherished, even if those memories now cause her pain."
"The world is vast, far beyond the small world we once knew. Now that the old story has ended, why not try to write a new beginning?"
He didn't offer any empty words of comfort; he simply stated a fact and offered a direction. As for whether Big Ah Yin is willing to move on, the choice remains hers.
Little Ah Yin nodded as if she understood, conveying Xuan Ming's words to the sorrowful soul deep within her consciousness.
Xuan Ming didn't dwell on Ah Yin's issue. Some knots in one's heart need time to untie; they can't be forced. He exchanged a glance with Bo Saixi, then turned and left the Sea God Forest, flying towards the assessment area on the Ring Sea.
When they arrived at the familiar white sand beach, Hu Liena, Ning Rongrong, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, Shui Bing'er, Huo Wu and others, who were relaxing, immediately noticed their arrival and excitedly surrounded them.
After several years of training on Sea God Island, under immense pressure and the Sacred Pillar Trial, each of them underwent significant changes.
Ning Rongrong, who was originally pampered, now has a healthy wheat-colored complexion, a determined look, and an upright posture, just like a female warrior who has been through many battles. There is no trace of her former fragility.
The other women also underwent a dramatic change in temperament, becoming calm and reserved yet sharp-witted, and their Soul Power cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, generally reaching the Soul Douluo level.
Shui Bing'er, Huo Wu, Dugu Yan were originally only at the Black Level Five Trials, but under extreme pressure, they unleashed amazing potential, and their assessment level was temporarily raised to the Black Level Six Trials by the Sea God. Now they have all reached the Soul Douluo level.
Among them, Ah Rou's progress is the most amazing. She already had a profound foundation, and now she is far ahead, successfully breaking through the Level 90 bottleneck and becoming a powerful Titled Douluo with two 100,000-year God-Given Soul Ring!
" Xuan Ming!"
"You're back!"
The women couldn't hide their joy when they saw Xuan Ming. Hu Liena's charming eyes were overflowing with affection.
Xuan Ming looked at them, and was about to ask them about the progress of the Fifth Trial when several gentle yet majestic golden beams of light suddenly descended from the sky, precisely enveloping each of the examinees!
[ Sea God Trial, Sixth Trial: Order Reshaping.]
[Content: Assist Xuan Ming in reshaping the order of the Douluo Continent.]
[Performance bonuses: determined based on individual contributions and performance.]
Clear divine information entered everyone's mind.
The women were taken aback at first, but then their faces lit up with excitement and eagerness.
They had trained diligently on Sea God Island for several years, greatly increasing their strength. They had long yearned to truly help Xuan Ming, and now they finally had a chance to put their skills to use!
Bo Saixi immediately transmitted the assessment information to Xuan Ming's mind.
Xuan Ming subconsciously looked up at the Sea God Hall in the distance, somewhat speechless.
He was almost certain that this was another instance of Poseidon using his position for personal gain, subtly placing helpers in his lap, or rather... trying to involve these women, with whom he had close ties, more in his "cause" and deepen their bond.
However, after being away from the mainland for so many years, it really is time to go back and take a look.
Moreover, taking these transformed girls back with him might actually come in handy in some ways.
Even if not, after training like crazy for so many years, it's time to take a break.
Xuan Ming did not immediately leave with Hu Liena and the others. He Divine Consciousness sensed the area on the other side of Sea God Island that had been temporarily designated as a resting place for Soul Beast. The next moment, his figure disappeared again and reappeared in front of Bi Ji, Zi JI, Snow Empress, and Ice Empress.
During their time on Sea God Island, the four Ferocious Beast, aided by the abundant energy and relatively peaceful environment, all made progress in their cultivation, their auras becoming more profound than before.
"Get ready, come back to the Spirit Hall Empire with me." Xuan Ming said succinctly.
Bi Ji was somewhat surprised and asked gently, "Has something happened on the continent?"
"It's not a sudden change," Xuan Ming explained. "It's about the Soul Ring; there's been some new progress, and we need to discuss it in detail with you."
He mentioned the initial success of the Soul Ring Storage Device and his preliminary ideas on building Soul Ring Cycle System.
"This matter concerns the future survival of the Soul Beast Clan, and as their representatives, you need to participate."
Upon hearing that it was closely related to the fate of the Soul Beast, the expressions of the four Ferocious Beast all became serious.
A flicker of emotion crossed Snow Empress's usually cold eyes, and she slowly nodded. "Understood, we'll go back with you."
Ice Empress crossed their arms. "Finally, time to get down to business? We're practically going crazy from being so bored on this island."
Both Zi JI and Bi Ji expressed their agreement.
Xuan Ming wasn't here, and neither was Gu Yuena; they could only pass the time by watching the sea.
"By the way, where is the Demon Empress?" Xuan Ming asked.
" The Demon Empress? She went to the Lake of Life with Di Tian to see the child a long time ago," Bi Ji said.
"What's wrong?"
"It's nothing, I just need her help with something," Xuan Ming said.
"Let's see if we can figure out a sea route between the Sun Moon Continent and the Douluo Continent."
The ocean is vast. Poseidon once conquered the entire sea, bringing order to this ocean that was once filled with war and bloodshed, and this remains true to this day.
Sea God Island was merely one of Sea God's outposts, the place where he was born, grew up, and finally ascended to heaven; it doesn't mean that this was all he owned.
The existence of Sea God Island is not about ruling the ocean, but merely about protecting the place where the faith of Poseidon is passed down.
Moreover, Poseidon was probably the first human to circumnavigate Douluo Star.
Di Tian doesn't count; he's not human.
Chapter 422 His Majesty the Emperor
After a brief farewell to Bo Saixi, Xuan Ming activated his spatial powers and led everyone away from Sea God Island.
The space shifted, and in the next moment, everyone appeared above Spirit City.
Looking down at the magnificent city below, which was both familiar and somewhat unfamiliar, and feeling the hustle and bustle and vitality that was completely different from that of Sea God Island, Hu Liena and the others showed complicated expressions.
After being away for several years, I'm finally back.
After a simple welcome dinner, they were eager to go home and visit their families.
Ning Rongrong was the first to jump up; she had long missed her father, Ning Fengzhi, and her two grandfathers. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was now deeply intertwined with the Spirit Hall Empire, and Ning Fengzhi, as the sect leader, was the Prime Minister of the Empire, holding a high position and great power. The two Douluo, Sword and Bone, were also among the Elder Hall, holding prestigious positions.
Shui Bing'er and Huo Wu's families seized the opportunity and joined the Spirit Hall Empire early on, and now they hold a respectable position within the empire, making it convenient for them to return home.
Dugu Yan's grandfather, Dugu Bo, was "invited" to Spirit City and joined the Elder Hall early in the expansion of the Spirit Hall Empire because of his terrifying poison skills, which had a huge impact on the war.
Although it was somewhat coercive, Bibi Dong still gave him enough courtesy and freedom, so Dugu Bo was happy to have some peace and quiet and could focus on his research into poisons. Dugu Yan, of course, went to find her grandfather.
Watching their companions go off to reunite with their families, Hu Liena, Xiao Wu, Ah Rou, Ah Yin, Ye Lingling, Zhu Zhuqing, and the four Ferocious Beast stayed with Xuan Ming.
Xiao Wu and Ah Rou depend on each other for survival; their "home" is each other and the place where Xuan Ming resides. Ye Lingling's Nine Heart Begonia lineage is a single-lineage family with few members and relatively weak relationships. Since her grandmother passed away, she has been determined to follow Xuan Ming.
Zhu Zhuqing's situation was the most unique. Her family was far away in the Star Luo Empire, a place where ruthless competition and fratricide were the norm. She felt no warmth of family affection there, only cold calculations and the pressure of survival. For her, that so-called "family" had long since become a dead name.
Wherever Xuan Ming is, that's her home.
As for Ah Yin, needless to say, she had even begun to regret being resurrected as a "young lady," because in this form she could no longer cling to Xuan Ming and act coquettishly all day long without any restraint as before.
"Let's go." Xuan Ming didn't say much and led everyone directly towards the Pope's Palace in the center of the city.
The group walked along the wide streets of Spirit City. Several years had passed, and Spirit City had changed a lot. The streets were cleaner, and many buildings and facilities with the characteristics of Soul Tool had appeared on both sides. The pedestrians were in a hurry, but they had lost some of the fervor of the past and gained a sense of order.
However, Xiao Wu keenly noticed that the pedestrians along the way all looked at Xuan Ming with extremely strange expressions.
It was a complex emotion mixed with awe, fear, curiosity, and even a hint of... indescribable feelings.
Many people, upon seeing this group from afar, instinctively lowered their heads and quickened their pace to avoid them, as if afraid of disturbing something.
Hu Liena's senses were even more acute; she could even faintly hear some hushed whispers:
"Look! It's... it's His Majesty!"
Shh! Keep your voice down! Don't look around!
"Her Majesty the Empress and His Majesty the Emperor appeared together today?"
"..."
His Majesty the Emperor?
A flicker of surprise and confusion crossed Hu Liena's alluring eyes. It was common knowledge that her teacher, Bibi Dong, was the Empress of the Spirit Hall Empire. But where did this title "Your Majesty the Emperor" come from? Could it refer to... Xuan Ming?
Ah Yin's senses were also extremely sharp. She blinked her azure eyes, grabbed Xuan Ming's sleeve, tilted her head back, and asked in a tone filled with natural innocence and curiosity, " Xuan Ming, Xuan Ming! Why do they call you Your Majesty the Emperor? When did you become the Emperor of the Spirit Hall Empire? Where is Sister Dong'er?"
Her question was direct, and although her voice wasn't loud, everyone present heard it clearly.
Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ye Lingling, and even the four Ferocious Beast pricked up their ears, and even Hu Liena cast an inquiring glance.
Over the years, they had stayed on Sea God Island, while Xuan Ming and Gu Yuena had been traveling around because of the God's Trial. They didn't know much about what was happening on this continent.
Xuan Ming paused slightly, glanced at the innocent-looking Ah Yin, and said calmly, "I didn't become emperor."
"Then why do they call you that?" Ah Yin persisted.
Xuan Ming rubbed his temples, looking a bit of a headache, and explained, "Ever since the All-Continent Elite Tournament of Advanced Soul Master Academy, my relationship with her has been the focus of gossip among outsiders."
He paused, his tone tinged with helplessness. "Especially a few years ago when I returned to the mainland and used the Slaughter Battle Soul to destroy the fortresses on the border of the two great empires and the defenses of the capital, and then Bibi Dong launched an iron-fisted purge within the Spirit Hall Empire, somehow, these kinds of nonsensical names started to circulate."
"Some say I'm the man behind Bibi Dong, the true ruler of the Spirit Hall Empire. Others say we're the two pillars of the empire, equal in status, so one is called Empress and the other Emperor. There are even more outrageous rumors... In short, it's all a mess."
After listening, Ah Yin tilted her head and thought for a moment, then blinked her pure and innocent eyes and said in a tone as if she had discovered the truth, "But... it all seems to be true, doesn't it? You and Sister Dong'er were originally in that kind of relationship!"
Xuan Ming: "..."
He was speechless at Ah Yin's "naive" honesty and didn't know how to refute her for a moment.
But what does this inexplicable emperor have to do with him whatsoever?
Ning Rongrong bid farewell to Xuan Ming and her companions, her heart filled with excitement and trepidation as she headed towards the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect 'Spirit City encampment in the city, following the directions given by Xuan Ming.
As the capital of the Spirit Hall Empire, Spirit City has become larger and more orderly after several years of construction.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's headquarters, which is also the Imperial Prime Minister's residence, is located in a quiet and heavily guarded area in the west of the city.
When Ning Rongrong appeared in front of the sect gate, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect disciples on duty were first stunned, and then burst into great joy!